How does one "give up" a job search? Don't you continue to go on until something falls on your lap, incrementally accepting lower and lower standards? Or do they just decide to become homeless?

They may have "given up" their job search, but that doesn't mean they weren't pursuing other wealth generating activities. One could take on freelance projects, perform consulting work, etc. In my case, I gave up my job search and started a business using some $ from several angel investors. My business provided statistical consulting services to businesses and political campaigns, and starting it was one of the most reckless and rewarding things I have every done. My company eventually tanked due to some poor decision making on my end, but once I got back out in the "real" world to look for jobs, people (hiring managers and upper management) were blown away that a new college grad would do that and have a fair amount of luck in executing work for some major clients.

For new grads who can't find work, I highly recommend entrepreneurship. You have some skill or specialty, even if it's not clear to you, and there is likely a market for that skill. Plus, trust me, it's much better to be the boss than to be someone else's bitch.*

They may have "given up" their job search, but that doesn't mean they weren't pursuing other wealth generating activities. One could take on freelance projects, perform consulting work, etc. In my case, I gave up my job search and started a business using some $ from several angel investors. My business provided statistical consulting services to businesses and political campaigns, and starting it was one of the most reckless and rewarding things I have every done. My company eventually tanked due to some poor decision making on my end, but once I got back out in the "real" world to look for jobs, people (hiring managers and upper management) were blown away that a new college grad would do that and have a fair amount of luck in executing work for some major clients.

For new grads who can't find work, I highly recommend entrepreneurship. You have some skill or specialty, even if it's not clear to you, and there is likely a market for that skill. Plus, trust me, it's much better to be the boss than to be someone else's bitch.*

* I can't emphasize that last point strongly enough.

I assure you these aren't the people I'm referring to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by svelten

How does one "give up" a job search? Don't you continue to go on until something falls on your lap, incrementally accepting lower and lower standards? Or do they just decide to become homeless?

They move back in with family. Or they just stay in school part-time forever and sell pot, which I guess is a job.

Been about two months since I started my job hunt after spending the year after undergrad applying for law school, only deciding now that I don't want to go to law schol yet. Doh...

It seems the job market is like a desert and I may end up just going back to school since I'm not having much luck.

Unless you have a good idea of what you want to do in school and are going to a prestigious school for a marketable skill this will be bad. When the economy recovers, there will be tons of people with advanced degrees for exactly this reason and competition will be high.

Try applying in states that have low unemployment. I know around here, companies can't find enough people. Unemployment is ~6% but factories can't fill CNC operator jobs as an example.

may be harder to get the first job, but
While the U.S. jobless rate fell to 8.3 percent in February, unemployment among college graduates over the age of 25 stood at 4.2 percent.

Those employment stats don't mean too much though, since they're just general unemployment numbers. Yes college graduates over 25 are going to have a lower unemployment % but a lot of that is going to be due to the fact that they've been out of school for longer and have to take pretty much whatever they can find...barista, retail, etc making shit money... plus some will be in school for med/law/etc. On the other hand grads under 25 are more likely to be living at home with family for the short term and holding out for a job that uses their degree.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breedlove

Been about two months since I started my job hunt after spending the year after undergrad applying for law school, only deciding now that I don't want to go to law schol yet. Doh...

It seems the job market is like a desert and I may end up just going back to school since I'm not having much luck.

The legal job market is absolutely horrible and probably won't improve for quite a while, so I'd advise not going to law school unless it's "the only you'd be happy doing" or you have really really good connections that can get you a job.